Winnipeg Jets Set to Hire Former Player and Manitoba Moose Coach Back
When assessing the Winnipeg Jets‘ search for the next head coach, some of the candidates have ties to either the Jets franchise or the province of Manitoba.
This is shown by the report that said there was a chance that the Jets were going to interview Pascal Vincent who spent many years in Winnipeg’s franchise as both a Jets’ assistant coach and Manitoba Moose head coach. This fact is also shown by the Jets interviewing Barry Trotz who was born in Manitoba and started his coaching career here.
According to the latest report, the Jets look set to bring home someone to their coaching staff who has played for and coached in the franchise.
The Winnipeg Jets are reportedly hiring Scott Arniel as an associate head coach
The news was broken by Murat Ates, of The Athletic, as he stated yesterday that “Arniel is a virtual lock to join the Jets next coaching staff… most likely an Associate coach.”
#NHLJets coaching news: Source tells The Athletic that Scott Arniel is a virtual lock to join the #NHLJets next coaching staff — most likely as an Associate Coach.
— Murat Ates (@WPGMurat) May 31, 2022
What this means for Winnipeg, how it impacts Barry Trotz watch, and more:https://t.co/sNJ7BvhXXz
The fifty-nine-year-old Arniel’s career will come full circle if he does indeed become part of the Jets’ coaching staff.
Arniel was originally drafted twenty-second overall by the Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft and went on to play six seasons with the franchise. During his 11-year NHL career, Arniel played 406 games with the Jets and amassed 80 goals and 112 assists.
After his time in the NHL ended, Arniel then spent nine seasons in different professional leagues including the AHL and IHL. Arniel’s last three years of his playing career ended with the Manitoba Moose when they were an IHL team.
Arniel then made the jump to coaching and started as an assistant coach with the Moose in 2001. He then got his first NHL coaching job with the Buffalo Sabres in 2002 as an assistant coach.
After spending three seasons in Buffalo, Arniel then returned to the Jets’ franchise as the head coach of the Moose.
In his four seasons as Moose head coach, he brought them to the playoffs each season including a run to the finals in 2009. This great run then led to Arniel getting an NHL head coaching job with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2010.
Arniel only lasted a season and a half in Columbus before he was let go. He then spent a season with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL as their head coach.
Since the 2013-2014 season, Arniel has been an NHL associate/assistant coach. Arniel spent five seasons with the New York Rangers and then was added to the Washington Capitals staff for the 2018-2019 season when Todd Reirden took over from Barry Trotz. Arniel has coached in Washington each season since.
Want your voice heard? Join the Jets White Out team!
There is no telling when the Jets’ will officially name Arniel as part of their new staff, but the belief is that it will happen after Kevin Cheveldayoff and the Jets front office name the next head coach of the franchise.
Winnipeg Jets Fans: What are your initial reactions to Scott Arniel potentially joining the Winnipeg Jets staff? Leave your comments below!
